Having It Your Way Costs Time, Money

In an era where everything from hamburgers to housing is mass-produced, custom-made furniture has a cachet people are willing to pay extra and wait longer for.

Custom furniture can be produced in all shapes, sizes, colors, materials and finishes, from laminated plastic to snakeskin. Free-standing pieces such as cocktail and end tables are popular, but built-in furniture -- platform beds, computer work stations and wall units -- lead in popularity.

Designed to solve storage problems and save space, custom wall units may be flush with the walls or have sculptural lines that are the focus of the room. ''There's always a need for wall units,'' said Gail Adams of Ewing-Noble Interiors, Winter Park. ''With the smaller spaces in houses these days, they provide a greater utilization of storage. All of the things people have now -- electronic equipment and other possessions -- need to be incorporated in a room so they don't stand out and compete for attention.''

The trend toward smaller houses as one reason why built-in custom furniture is on the upswing was also suggested by David Sprague, owner of Advanced Design by David L. Sprague, Winter Park.

''It's a growing industry because the ready-made furniture being produced isn't keeping up with changes in housing. Furniture has to be more space- economical.''

Sprague used the typical 10-foot-by-10-foot size of secondary bedrooms -- which are usually used as children's rooms -- as an example.

''Our biggest call is for children's bedroom furniture built as a single wraparound unit. You can't go out and buy individual pieces of furniture for a 10-foot-by-10-foot room that aren't too bulky and don't take up too much space.''

Demand for custom furniture is also likely to rise because of the increasing number of affluent consumers. According to John Schmonsees of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the number of households earning $50,000 or more will triple within the next 15 years. Demand for furniture of high quality and style will increase accordingly, he said.

Bargain hunters have little place in the custom-furniture scene. The custom-furniture makers said their work costs more than a ready-made piece of comparable size and material. How much more is determined by the finish and complexity of the piece.

Shopping for a custom-furniture builder requires more effort than breezing through a showroom. Some companies work only through interior designers, while others will also accept jobs from individuals.

Also, custom furniture makers tend to specialize -- some build wall units and buffets, but not chairs. Others concentrate on smaller pieces, turning down orders for large projects. Few companies that make kitchen cabinets will build anything else.

''The custom-furniture business is a lot different than it was 20 years ago,'' said Jay Quinn, who started Quincraft, an Orlando custom furniture company, with his brother Guy in 1981. ''Then, you went to the kitchen- cabinetmaker no matter what you wanted built. Now, there's a separate market.''

Quincraft works exclusively through interior designers. Quinn said the furniture the company builds tends to be either very modern or very traditional. Jobs have ranged from a futuristic built-in media cabinet with three flush-mounted monitors and big-screen television to wooden wall shelving with a built-in desk. Most of the furniture is wood, with finishes in laminate, high-gloss lacquer, grasscloth and marble.

The company recently built a large wall unit for Orlando resident Arthur Zimand, a client of Ewing-Noble Interiors. Zimand wanted the unit to perform several functions, foremost of which was to feature his elaborate stereo system. Speakers on either side of the cabinet are incorporated into the side panels. Open shelves above the speakers display bronze statues, illuminated by down-lighting.

Two glass door sections display equestrian awards and equipment, while the doors in the center open to reveal a mirrored bar. The unit's high-gloss lacquer finish matches that of the room's trim, and the crown molding ties in with the house's architecture features.

Another type of custom furniture is created by Sanford designer-craftsman John Wesley Williams. Williams, who won second place in crafts in this year's Winter Park and Mount Dora art festivals, primarily builds chairs, occasional tables and desks.

''I try to stay away from wall units,'' he said. ''I enjoy the smaller pieces -- I like furniture you can walk around.''

Williams uses hardwoods, mainly such native American woods as cherry, oak, maple, pecan and walnut. His furniture is distinguished by slightly curving lines incorporating traditional and contemporary influences. Slick, glossy surfaces are not his style. Williams will not even apply varnish to his work. ''A lot of people have never felt wood furniture,'' he said. ''They're accustomed to highly waxed and polished finishes.''